A 21-year-old transient from Riverside County pleaded guilty Thursday, Aug. 28 to aiming a laser pointer at a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter that was monitoring immigration raid protests in downtown Los Angeles.

Dominic Rios, whose last known address was in Hemet, was arrested July 7 after investigators filed a complaint.

Sentencing is scheduled in Los Angeles federal court on Dec. 4, at which time he will face up to five years in federal prison, prosecutors said.

According to the complaint, he aimed the laser device at an LAPD helicopter flying at 950 feet while its crew monitored anti-immigration enforcement protests.

The airship was struck three times by a green laser beam, according to the complaint.

“The LAPD helicopter pilot and flight officer were able to identify the

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